Faking It with Ariel and Morgan

Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Film Reviews
  • Updated Biweekly

Faking It with Ariel and Morgan is the podcast that strips down the mystery of Hollywood’s most private moments, and makes you laugh while doing it. Hosted by Intimacy Coordinators Ariel Leigh Cohen and Morgan Smith, each episode dives into the world of film sets, sex scenes, and all the awkward, hilarious, and surprisingly tender stories that come with them.From behind-the-scenes Hollywood secrets to spicy movie moments, we’re here to answer the questions you didn’t even know you had: How do actors fake it? What really happens under the covers on set? And what the actors are really wearing?Expect a mix of comedy, storytelling, and real talk about intimacy, relationships, filmmaking, and the art of pretending. If you’re into funny film podcasts, behind-the-scenes stories, acting tips, NSFW comedy, and Hollywood chaos, you’ve just found your new obsession.Subscribe now and stay real, Fakers.

  1. 2d ago

    The Incest Factor | A Deep Exploration of “Dicks: the Musical”

    Dicks: The Musical has a twin incest sex scene scored like an opera. Yes, really. Two intimacy coordinators break down the most unhinged A24 movie you haven't seen. Full description: Megan Thee Stallion. Nathan Lane. Puppet penises. And a sex scene between twins that somehow becomes a camp masterpiece. Dicks: The Musical is absurd, offensive, and genuinely hilarious. Ariel and Morgan react to the scenes everyone is too afraid to describe. In this episode: • The twin hookup scene (yes, it's opera-scored) • Why unrealistic sex can be funnier than realistic sex • Walking 69s and spit takes • How men fake it on screen • Puppet intimacy in theater This episode is for you if: • You love A24's weirdest movies • You want to hear intimacy coordinators lose their minds • You need queer comedy that isn't serious for once Watch along timestamps: • Opening scene: 0:50 • Sleepover scene: 1:10:00 Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of film and TV's wildest intimate scenes. Credits Dicks: The Musical (2023) | Director: Larry Charles | A24 Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    34 min

  2. May 20

    A Sub is Born! | What "Secretary" Get's Right About BDSM

    Secretary (2002) has the sexiest no-contact scene in film history. Two intimacy coordinators break down the BDSM cult classic that still sparks debate. Full description: Maggie Gyllenhaal. James Spader. A desk. And a worm that somehow becomes the hottest moment in the movie. Secretary changed how Hollywood talked about kink on screen. But does it hold up? Ariel and Morgan break down the iconic, controversial, and deeply weird BDSM film that people are still arguing about 20 years later. In this episode: • The worm scene — why anticipation and eye contact are sexier than touch • The Peter problem: she's asking for domination. He's giving nothing. • Why "no safeword, no conversation" is doing a LOT of heavy lifting • Kink as emotional connection vs. kink as self-harm replacement • Breath work that deserves awards and hand spasms that steal the show The verdict: No notes. (Okay... some notes.) Watch along timestamps: • Peter scene: 1:08:00 • Worm scene: 1:10:00 • Aftercare/gardening scene: 1:41:00 This video is for you if: • You love cult classics from the early 2000s • You want to understand why Secretary is still discussed • You're curious about BDSM representation on film • You're a fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal or James Spader Subscribe for weekly breakdowns of film and TV's most iconic intimate scenes. Credits Secretary (2002) | Director: Steven Shainberg | Starring: Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Spader | Lionsgate Hashtags #SecretaryMovie #BDSMfilm #IntimacyCoordinator #CultClassic #FilmBreakdown Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    43 min

  3. May 6

    No Lube, No Warning | Spilling the Beans on the Intimacy of “Brokeback Mountain”

    This episode is sponsored by: taking your time. Ariel and Morgan are diving into Brokeback Mountain: the film that changed queer representation forever… and also left us with a lot of questions about how these scenes actually function.  From the infamous first tent scene to the long-awaited reunion, we’re breaking down what’s working, what’s not, and why these moments feel so tense without ever fully landing. They get into it all: The reality of prep, lubrication, and pacing (and what’s missing here) How tension overtakes intimacy and why that leaves the scenes feeling incomplete The difference between awkwardness that serves the story vs. awkwardness that comes from unclear choreographyHow the intimacy goes from zero to 100… and tends to stay there foreverPlus: beans, spit logistics, near broken noses, and a very real conversation about how these scenes would be approached differently today with an intimacy coordinator. We also zoom out to talk about the film’s massive cultural impact, the historical context it exists in, and why representation matters, even when the intimacy itself  needs room for growth. Justice for lube. That’s all we’re saying. Want to watch along? Our reaction covers the Tent scene: 00:27:30, the Rasslin' scene: 00:32:51, and the Reunion scene: 01:03:07. We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN Director: Ang Lee Writers: Larry McMurtry; Diana Ossana Source Material: Based on the short story by Annie Proulx Producers: Diana Ossana; James Schamus Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Heath Ledger; Jake Gyllenhaal; Michelle Williams; Randy Quaid © 2005 Focus Features / River Road Entertainment / Good Machine. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    40 min

  4. Apr 22

    Her Throbbing Labia | Hormones Gone Rogue in "PEN15"

    This one is so real it hurts. Ariel and Morgan dive into PEN15 (Season 1, Episode 3: “Ojichan”). From the very first moment of “wait… what is happening to my body?” to the full spiral of can’t-stop-won’t-stop self-discovery, this episode captures the chaos, confusion, and intensity of discovering desire with absolutely no roadmap. They get into it all:  The painfully accurate portrayal of first arousal: awkward, obsessive, and completely all-consuming  Why casting adult actors as teens might allow the show to explore this safely without crossing ethical lines The way PEN15 captures the feeling of “I must be the only one experiencing this”  How shame, secrecy, and silence around sex education shape those early experiences It’s cringey. It’s deeply familiar. And it turns one of the most private human experiences into comedy gold. Want to watch along? Our reaction covers Maya's first discovery (00:00:41), the Closet/Walkman scene (00:09:22), and the Classroom montage (00:04:14) We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point.  👉 Before you say anything - yes, Ariel mispronounced Maya Erskine’s last name. We know. We’re sorry. We love her. ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — PEN15 (S1E3 “Ojichan”) Creators: Maya Erskine; Anna Konkle; Sam Zvibleman Director: Daniel Gray Longino Writers: Maya Erskine; Anna Konkle; Sam Zvibleman Producers: Maya Erskine; Anna Konkle; Sam Zvibleman Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Maya Erskine; Anna Konkle © 2019 Hulu / Lonely Island Classics, Odenkirk Provissiero Entertainment, AwesomenessTV. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    40 min

  5. Apr 8

    Hardcore Vanilla | The Unhinged Sex Scenes of "Buffy The Vampire Slayer" Explained

    👉 BIG OLD SPOILERS AHEAD! YOU'VE BEEN WARNED! The Buffy reboot/reimagining isn't happening for now. We are devastated. So naturally, we need to talk about Buffy and Spike in season 6.  Ariel and Morgan are finally diving into Buffy the Vampire Slayer where things are darker, messier, and include a whole lot more property damage 👀. From literally breaking a house down during sex to invisible hookups to whatever the hell is happening on that balcony… they have thoughts. They get into it all:  The iconic Buffy/Spike “Smashed” scene: why it’s so hot and makes zero logistical sense  How the show tries to portray Buffy’s rock bottom through sex (and where it succeeds vs. fails)  The invisibility scene as a surprisingly perfect example of how simulated sex actually works on set Why the show keeps saying Buffy and Spike are kinky… while showing the most vanilla execution imaginable  The difference between toxic intimacy vs. BDSM, and why those are not the same thing Plus: pants continuity crimes, mystery penetration logistics, and a full breakdown of our personal histories with Spuffy. Want to watch along? Our reaction covers "Smashed” (House scene): ~00:39:39, “Gone” (Invisibility scene): ~00:28:08, and “Dead Things” (Balcony scene): ~00:20:25 We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER Creators: Joss Whedon “Smashed” (Season 6, Episode 9) Director: Turi Meyer Writers: Drew Z. Greenberg; Rebecca Rand Kirshner; Steven S. DeKnight “Gone” (Season 6, Episode 11) Director: David Fury Writers: David Fury; Rebecca Rand Kirshner; Steven S. DeKnight “Dead Things” (Season 6, Episode 13) Director: James A. Contner Writers: Steven S. DeKnight; Rebecca Rand Kirshner; Drew Z. Greenberg Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Sarah Michelle Gellar; James Marsters; Nicholas Brendon; Emma Caulfield; Alyson Hannigan © 1997–2003 Mutant Enemy, Inc. / 20th Century Fox Television. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    44 min

  6. Mar 25

    Orgasm Against The Machine | Sci-Fi, Stripteases, and Sex in “Barbarella”

    Get ready for one of the most bizarre and brazen films of a generation. In this episode, Ariel and Morgan travel back to 1968’s sci-fi cult classic Barbarella — a movie where Jane Fonda strips out of a spacesuit in zero gravity and later defeats a villain using… an orgasm machine. Yes. Really. The hosts break down how the film uses erotic spectacle, camp, and absurdity to create scenes that are both wildly objectifying and oddly revolutionary for their time. They get into it all: How the famous zero-gravity striptease opening uses choreography, framing, and floating credits to tease and shock the audience Why the “Excessive Machine” scene was extremely bold for mainstream cinema in 1968Fascinating power dynamics where the villain weaponizes pleasure and the hero literally sets the situation on fire.Why early Hollywood often treated sex as visual spectacle first and human experience secondIt’s campy. It’s chaotic. And somehow still iconic.  Want to watch along? Our reaction covers the opening striptease (0:00:00) and the excessive machine scene (Time Code: ~1:15:00). We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — Barbarella Director: Roger Vadim Writers: Terry Southern; Roger Vadim; Claude Brulé; Vittorio Bonicelli Source Material: Based on the comic Barbarella by Jean-Claude Forest Producer: Dino De Laurentiis Actors: Jane Fonda; Milo O’Shea © 1968 Dino De Laurentiis Cinematografica / Paramount Pictures. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    38 min

  7. Mar 11

    Thrown in the Deep End | Brooke M. Haney Dives Into "Booksmart"

    This one’s about awkward first times — featuring skinny jeans, bad geometry, and absolutely zero game. Ariel and Morgan sit down with intimacy coordinator and author Brooke M. Haney to break down the chaotic, vulnerable, and surprisingly tender hookup scenes from Booksmart: a film that proves intimacy on screen doesn’t have to be polished to be powerful. They get into it all: • Why awkward intimacy can still be choreographed and is not an excuse to skip process  • The storytelling power of wardrobe choices, body language, and messy logistics (yes, including skinny jeans and sneakers)  • And why representation of imperfect queer intimacy matters when so many people learn about sex from movies It’s thoughtful, nerdy, hilarious, including shop talk from kit items and choreography language to the very real production challenges of filming intimacy on beaches, in pools, and under rapidly disappearing sunlight. Buy Brooke's book "A History of Intimacy Professionals in Entertainment" Here! Buy Brooke's book "The Intimacy Coordinator's Guidebook" Here! Listen to us on the podcast "Happier in Hollywood" Here! Want to watch along? Our reaction covers the pool sequence (~1:04:00) and the bathroom hookup scene (Time Code: 1:14:42–1:18:00). We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point.  ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — Booksmart (2019) Director: Olivia Wilde Writers: Emily Halpern; Sarah Haskins; Susanna Fogel; Katie Silberman Producers: Megan Ellison; Jessica Elbaum; Katie Silberman... Actors: Kaitlyn Dever; Diana Silvers; Victoria Ruesga Studio: Annapurna Pictures / Gloria Sanchez Productions © 2019 Annapurna Pictures. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    41 min

  8. Feb 25

    From Nightmare to Nirvana | "Insecure" Sex Scenes Have The Range

    This week we’re diving into Insecure — and honestly? The range. Morgan introduces Ariel (who has never seen the show 👀) to two wildly different intimacy moments from Season 4: one chaotic, jealousy-fueled nightmare fantasy and one slow-burn reunion that might be one of the most emotionally satisfying TV hookups ever. We break down: How a comedic sex scene can be intentionally not realistic — and why that works“Pop the tags” and the audacity of imagining such a thingThe crackling eye contact, breath work, and micro-choices that make the reunion scene explodeTender Black love on screen and why we don’t see enough of itThe blink-and-you-miss-it position change that tells you exactly who’s in controlThis episode is funny, nerdy, and unexpectedly emotional; it's a perfect example of how a show can pull off slapstick fantasy and deeply romantic intimacy in the same breath. Listen to the episode of the Indie Film Podcast where we were interviewed behind the scenes HERE.  Want to watch along? Our reaction covers Episode 4: Lowkey Feelin' Myself (Time Code: 11:53), Episode 8: Lowkey Happy (Time Code: 25:17). We cut around the clips, so it won’t sync perfectly, but you’ll absolutely get the point. ----------------------------------------- CREDITS — Insecure (Season 4) Creators: Issa Rae; Larry Wilmore/ Showrunner: Prentice Penny Episode 4x01 “Lowkey Feelin’ Myself” Director: Kevin Bray Writer: Issa Rae Intimacy Coordinator: Mia Schachter Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Issa Rae; Jay Ellis; Christina Elmore Episode 4x08 “Lowkey Happy” Director: Kevin Bray Writer: Natasha Rothwell Intimacy Coordinator: None Actors (featured in discussed scenes): Issa Rae; Jay Ellis © 2016–2021 HBO Entertainment / Issa Rae Productions / 3 Arts Entertainment. All rights reserved. ----------------------------------------- Support the show 🔗 Connect & Support the Show 👀 Watch the Video Version: See our reactions! The video podcast is available on Spotify and YouTube. 💌 Suggest a Scene & Get Bonuses: Join our Patreon to request movies for us to break down and access exclusive bonus episodes HERE! 📱 Follow Us for Chaos: Get behind-the-scenes content and updates on Instagram @FakingItThePod 🌐 Visit Our Website: Find all our links and more at FakingItThePod.com 🎶Theme Song is Faking It by Mike Goetz 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Never miss an episode! Subscribe on your favorite podcast app. 💬 Review Us: Love the show? Give us 5 stars! It helps other listeners find us. Stay real, Fakers! Legal Disclaimer The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are our own. This episode is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Nothing here is intended to defame, slander, or infringe upon any individual or entity. All trademarks and copyrights remain the property of their respective owners.

    36 min
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Trailer

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Faking It with Ariel and Morgan is the podcast that strips down the mystery of Hollywood’s most private moments, and makes you laugh while doing it. Hosted by Intimacy Coordinators Ariel Leigh Cohen and Morgan Smith, each episode dives into the world of film sets, sex scenes, and all the awkward, hilarious, and surprisingly tender stories that come with them.From behind-the-scenes Hollywood secrets to spicy movie moments, we’re here to answer the questions you didn’t even know you had: How do actors fake it? What really happens under the covers on set? And what the actors are really wearing?Expect a mix of comedy, storytelling, and real talk about intimacy, relationships, filmmaking, and the art of pretending. If you’re into funny film podcasts, behind-the-scenes stories, acting tips, NSFW comedy, and Hollywood chaos, you’ve just found your new obsession.Subscribe now and stay real, Fakers.

Information

  • Creator
    Ariel Leigh Cohen & Morgan Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Faking It with Ariel and Morgan
  • Show Website
    Faking It with Ariel and Morgan

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